The 2013 Global Top 10 award reflects Solegear's cleantech success and market position as a leading bioplastics company in the $163.1 billion global cleantech industry. It also indicates Solegear's unique innovations are making a positive contribution to the green economy.

"Economic research demonstrates clusters are critical for regions fostering their technology centers, and they are paramount to the success of building green economies," said Nina Harjula, GCCA Co-Founder and Finnish Cleantech Cluster Manager "The 2013 winners are both successful technically, strategically and regionally. It is an honor to highlight them and we wish them continued success."

Solegear was nominated for the GCCA Later Stage Award by GreenTech Exchange in May 2013 for its leadership in developing innovative bioplastic technologies. In total, 160 companies were nominated by clusters as leading in their regions. That number was later narrowed to the Global Top 30 Semi-Finalists using the Keystone Method™, a business and venture development tool developed by GCCA Head Judge Dr. Peter Adriaens and CleanTech Acceleration Partners at the University of Michigan.

Unlike many competitors, Solegear focuses on working directly with global brands to engineer customized formulations and finished packaging made from bioplastics. This market-oriented approach delivers customized packaging and product solutions that meet their sustainability and end of life objectives The Company is continuing to advance the market adoption of its Green Chemistry technologies, aiming to transform the use of plastics into a zero-waste proposition.

"We are again humbled by this validation of the Solegear vision and our team's efforts to realize it. With a global jury of well-known professional investors, the GCCA Award recognizes Solegear's investability and the market opportunity that we are addressing," said Toby Reid, Solegear's founder & CEO. "Our innovative approach to collaboration across the value chain has allowed us to create sustainable bioplastic solutions that are delivering value to our customers today, and that we believe will, in the long-term, make our communities healthier, safer and stronger."

A full list of the GCCA Later Stage Award 2013 Global Top 10 Finalists can be found here.

About Solegear Bioplastics Inc.

Solegear, based in Vancouver BC, engineers, produces and distributes high-performance bioplastics made from rapidly renewable resources. Founded in 2006, Solegear has developed proprietary bioplastic formulations under the brand names of Polysole®-a non-toxic, bio-based and compostable bioplastic and Traverse®-a composite bioplastic using the maximum possible bio-based content and non-toxic enhancers. In 2013, Solegear has also been named to both Rocket Builders' Cleantech Ready to Rocket and BCBusiness Innovator of the Year Top 10 list of companies best positioned for growth.

About the Global Cleantech Cluster Association

Global Cleantech is a non-profit association, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. that creates conduits for companies to harness the tremendous benefits of international cleantech cluster collaboration in an efficient, affordable, and structured way. Global Cleantech provides a gateway for established and emerging cleantech companies to gain exposure to potential investors, new markets, influential networks, innovative technologies and best practices. GCCA was founded by the Finnish Cleantech Cluster, swisscleantech, Technica Communications and Watershed Capital Group. For more information about Global Cleantech, please visit www.globalcleantech.org.

About GreenTech Exchange (GTEx)

GreenTech Exchange (GTEx) is a dynamic industry platform with a focus on technology commercialization and solution generation in the green innovation and clean energy domain. GTEx delivers industry relevant forums, networking events, trade missions and market oriented programs to help advance innovation and expertise in the green economy. Since 2009, GTEx has been hosting regular education and networking forums in Vancouver and in since 2012, expanded to hold several forums on Vancouver Island as well. GreenTech Exchange is actively engaging investors, professionals, government and agencies with entrepreneurs, emerging companies and commercial enterprises to empower the Cleantech ecosystem.